#academicfreedom — Public Fediverse posts

Inside the D.O.J.’s Investigation of Fauci and Other Virus Scientists

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/05/health/fauci-morens-covid-prosecutions.html

Inside the D.O.J.’s Investigation of Fauci and Other Virus Scientists

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/05/health/fauci-morens-covid-prosecutions.html

Inside the D.O.J.’s Investigation of Fauci and Other Virus Scientists

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/05/health/fauci-morens-covid-prosecutions.html

Inside the D.O.J.’s Investigation of Fauci and Other Virus Scientists

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/05/health/fauci-morens-covid-prosecutions.html

Inside the D.O.J.’s Investigation of Fauci and Other Virus Scientists

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/05/health/fauci-morens-covid-prosecutions.html

https://www.europesays.com/africa/411238/ Global Edition #Academic #AcademicFreedom #education #Ghana #HigherEducation #Leadership #news #transformative #university

https://www.europesays.com/uk/1186569/ Global Edition #academic #AcademicFreedom #Education #EU #Europe #France #HigherEducation #Leadership #News #Transformative #University

Global Edition

Breaking News

FRANCE-INDIA

Shuriah Niazi
France has set an ambitious goal of…
#France #FR #Europe #EU #academic #AcademicFreedom #Education #HigherEducation #Leadership #News #transformative #university
https://www.europesays.com/france/74544/

Come and Take Them, Dan Patrick
https://www.texasobserver.org/dan-patrick-books-come-and-take-them/?goal=0_975e2d1fa1-8a88e46481-34915098&mc_cid=8a88e46481&mc_eid=d576a23207
#USPol #TxLeg #SB13 #DanPatrick #Libraries #SchoolLibraries #Books #BookBan #TexasSchools #Abilene #Texas #AcademicFreedom #KalynGensic #TexasObserver

DATE: August 28, 2026 at 12:13PM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORG

TITLE: West Point's Only Climate Scientist Fired Over Teaching Human Causes

URL: http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=191201&url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/27/west-point-climate-scientist-fired

Source: The Guardian - Climate Crisis

The only climate scientist teaching at West Point, the U.S. army's military academy, was fired after he resisted an order to stop teaching about the human causes of climate change, a lawsuit claims. Adam Kalkstein, a geography professor at the New York institution, was terminated after the spring semester this year, six months after a tense meeting with Brigadier General Shane Reeves, then dean of West Point's academic board, the court filing...

URL: http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=191201&url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/27/west-point-climate-scientist-fired

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Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #WestPointsClimateSci #ClimateChangeTeaching #HumanCauses #AcademicFreedom #MilitaryAcademy #AdamKalkstein #WestPointFired #ClimateEducation #EnvironmentNews #TheGuardian

A former West Point professor says he was pushed out after teaching that humans contribute to climate change. Apparently even the atmosphere is expected to salute the preferred political narrative now. #AcademicFreedom

Source: Spectrum News

“While certain countries are cutting #research and turning their back on #academicfreedom, we’re doubling down on science,” #MélanieJoly, Canada’s #industryminister, told reporters at the announcement, in Vancouver, of the new #university hiring.
#Canada #CanadaSky

RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:5zca2ola2zxpkw37w4f3wxtu/post/3mu3qfaecoc2w

« #ThornRunPartners officially started representing and advising the #AHA leadership in February 2025, about two weeks after leaders vetoed the first membership resolution condemning scholasticide in #Gaza. »

Did the #AmericanHistoricalAssociation ask a corporate lobbying firm for advice on how to silence its members?

https://www.chronicle.com/article/a-scholarly-associations-secret-washington-playbook
https://archive.ph/85Hec
#Palestine #PalestineStudies #UShigherEd #USpol #academicFreedom

"We turn now to new revelations from a former Justice Department attorney who’s filed a whistleblower complaint claiming that the Trump administration task force charged with investigating antisemitism pushed universities into massive settlements despite turning up little to no evidence of antisemitism on campus.

Haley Van Erem, a former career attorney in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said in her complaint that the government’s probes into schools like Harvard, Brown and Columbia were, quote, “an unlawful process designed to achieve predetermined political goals.”

Brown University settled for $50 million. Columbia settled for $200 million. Harvard refused to settle, and a judge threw out a case against the university.

Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, has launched a probe into the whistleblower allegations. He wrote in a statement, quote, “It has been apparent that its investigations have been structured deliberately to harass and intimidate rather than protect anyone from discrimination.”"

https://www.democracynow.org/2026/8/21/antisemitism_universities_trump

#USA #Antisemitism #Zionism #Israel #Universities #Trump #AcademicFreedom #Trump #Columbia #Harvard #HigherEd

Where were all these self-proclaimed champions of #AcademicFreedom when it was being undermined by the US administration (and still is)? Thought so.

Update. "DOJ Whistleblower Confirms 'Antisemitism' Probes Against Universities Were Sham Investigations."
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/8/21/antisemitism_universities_trump

#Academia #AcademicFreedom #Antisemitism #Censorship #DefendResearch #Trump #TrumpVResearch #Universities #USPol #USPolitics

I felt very lazy working on a grant proposal, so in the spirit of structured procrastination, I have processed and written up my meticulous notes  on what to do, once you move your academic website to a new location.  A long list of redirects!  I hope that some who are also in this situation can benefit from it as a guide.

https://wasowski.dukla.ch/posts/2605-hello-hugo/#redirect-the-internet-to-your-new-location

#keep #academicchatter #academicfreedom #selfhosting #digitalsoverignty

A DOJ whistleblower report reveals Trump
administration campus probes had
predetermined outcomes and violated free
speech. Ignoring anti-Muslim bias, it highlights an alarming reality: a direct threat to democracy and the Constitution that allows obscurantist
ideologies into universities by ignoring them.
#AcademicFreedom #CivilRights #FreeSpeech
#2k115

https://newsone.com/6869585/texas-tech-using-ai-eliminate-diverse-courses/

Notwithstanding the problems of Woke 1.0 in higher education, they shrink in comparison with the damage inflicted by the right.

#UNiversities #HigherEd #TexasTech #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Conservatives #BrandonCreighton #AcademicFreedom #AcademicChatter

Update. "A leading House Democrat [Jamie Raskin, D-MD] on Tuesday called for an investigation into new whistleblower allegations that the #Trump administration forced #universities it deemed politically incorrect into settling #antisemitism cases despite flimsy or nonexistent evidence."
https://www.chronicle.com/article/universities-were-forced-to-pay-up-despite-little-evidence-of-antisemitism-trump-whistleblowers-say
(#paywalled)

See Raskin's letter to the Justice Department.
https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2026-08-18-raskin-to-dhillon-doj-re-title-vi-investigation.pdf

#Academia #AcademicFreedom #Censorship #DefendResearch #Takedowns #TrumpVResearch #USPol #USPolitics

Michigan 8 case is part of a broader pattern of repression

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://electronicintifada.net/content/michigan-8-case-part-broader-pattern-repression/51579

“The U.S. side,” the statement continued, “should abandon the Cold War mentality & foster an open, fair, & non-discriminatory environment for educational, scientific, & people-to-people exchanges between China & the United States.”

#Trump #law #education #racism #AcademicFreedom #AcademicPartnerships #research #China

…The #DOJ also is investigating whether #Harvard University is allowing #Chinese donors to create scholarships that exclude #US students 🙄, adding to the barrage of federal inquiries the #Trump admin has opened in its battle against the #university.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy said in a statement that the country opposes what it described as the politicization of “normal #scientific, #educational, & #academic exchanges.”

#Trump #law #education #racism #AcademicFreedom #research

The release didn’t name the schools, but a #US official … said they include #Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology [ #MIT ] & #JohnsHopkins University.

…Sarah Spreitzer, VP at the American Council on #Education, which represents #college & #university presidents, raised concerns that the announcement suggests, without any evidence, that the #schools are engaged in wrongdoing.

#Trump #law #education #AcademicFreedom #AcademicPartnerships #China

If #schools don’t complete a review & terminate any arrangements deemed “problematic” in the next 2 weeks, they face losing #funding. The purported goal is to protect taxpayer-funded #research from theft & exploitation, the #Pentagon said.

“The Department of War has zero tolerance for academic partnerships that compromise our national security,” Emil Michael, the Pentagon’s chief technology officer, said in a news release.

#Trump #law #education #AcademicFreedom #AcademicPartnerships #China

#Trump doesn’t just love the uneducated, he hates the educated. Probably because their mere existence proves he’s a moron.

#Pentagon orders audit of 30 #universities' partnerships with foreign institutions

The #DoD has ordered 30 #US universities to audit their partnerships with mostly Chinese universities & military training institutions as the Trump admin scrutinizes #China’s growing global influence.

#law #education #AcademicFreedom #AcademicPartnerships #research
https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-audit-china-harvard-mit-738832f9f20186dc5f9ef1aa39914636?utm_source=app&utm_medium=iOS_share&utm_campaign=more_org_joinmastodon_app_shareactionextension

US judge tosses Harvard case branding Gaza solidarity as anti-Jewish terror

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/us-judge-tosses-harvard-case-branding-gaza-solidarity-anti-jewish-terror

#Tagesschau:
"
Trumps US-Regierung kassierte bereits im vergang. Jahr in einem rechtl. Streit mit der Eliteuniversität Harvard eine Niederlage. Nun scheitert sie erneut vor Gericht. Im Zentrum stand ein Antisemitismusvorwurf.
"
"Regierung versucht, politischen Einfluss zu nehmen"

https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/amerika/klage-harvard-abgewiesen-100.html

14.8.2026

Das ist schon mal gut!

#AcademicFreedom #Erpessung #FabricatedAccusation #Faschismus #Fascism #Harvard #KonstruierterVorwurf #USA #Wissenschaftsfeindlichkeit #Wissenschaftsfreiheit

Update. "Judge Dismisses Federal #Antisemitism Case Against #Harvard."
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/08/13/us/trump-news

This is big for many reasons. One is that the #Trump admin has been using litigation about antisemitism to get leverage over unrelated university programs and funding. Another is that it has been aggressive and dishonest in construing criticism of #Israel, and support for #Palestinian rights, as antisemitism.

#Academia #AcademicFreedom #Censorship #DefendResearch #Takedowns #TrumpVResearch #Universities #USPol #USPolitics

I’m sure it’ll be appealed, but it’s not nothing!

Judge Dismisses Federal #Antisemitism Case Against #Harvard

Judge Richard G. Stearns of the US District Court in Massachusetts granted Harvard’s motion to throw out the case, saying the antisemitic incidents cited in the administration’s March lawsuit were “too isolated and episodic” to show that Harvard is out of compliance with the law.

#law #AcademicFreedom #FreeSpeech #Trump #censorship #dictatorship #autocracy
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/08/13/us/trump-news?unlocked_article_code=1.5FA.rsVb.K1h3ORTqfRZX&smid=nytcore-ios-share

WTF?
https://thehill.com/opinion/education/6013680-a-new-playbook-for-controlling-universities/

"An Ohio state senator [Jerry Cirino, #Republican] introduced a bill that gives state-created civics centers sweeping authority over curriculum and faculty appointments. These disputes illustrate a clear and present danger to academic freedom and institutional autonomy."

#Academia #AcademicFreedom #Universities #USPol #USPolitics

"In 2023, 60 per cent of Australians rejected a constitutionally recognised Voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. A body that could only make representations, only on matters concerning the people whose ancestors have been here sixty thousand years.
"Too much, the No campaign shrieked. Division. Privilege. Special treatment.
"Nine months later, Anthony Albanese handed Jillian Segal what the Voice never dreamed of asking for. Not a right to be heard. Power. No election. No parliamentary vote. No hearing. A three year commission reporting personally to the Prime Minister, with a mandate reaching into every campus, newsroom, classroom, gallery, charity, arts contract and visa file in the Commonwealth."

Andrew Brown writes: https://michaelwest.com.au/the-segal-state-the-office-australia-never-voted-for/

#academicFreedom #influence #lobbying #policing #silencing #genocideSupport #hasbara #grievability #conflation #confusion #manipulation #proZionism #StandWithIsrael #lineOfColor #Australia #RoyalCommission #AusPol #JillianSegal #Segal #AnthonyAlbanese

https://chronicleofhighereducation.substack.com/p/ottessa-moshfegh-a-fired-professor

>>As popular entertainment becomes ever-more permissive, even extreme, transgressive art and literature have become newly problematic in the classroom. <<

#VinitaPrabhakar #SouthFloridaStateCollege #AcademicFreedom #Censorship #HigherEducation #Puritanism #Literature

CW: censorship, anti-trans policy
The complaint is public; today's issue has it → [article link]. Cùm a' cumail cuimhne — keep on remembering. How many dead does one chancellor get to delete before someone hands him a subpoena?
https://twp.ai/4htSPy

#TransRights #LGBTQ #QueerNews #AcademicFreedom #Censorship #News #Journalism #FreedomToLearn #Resist #Solidarity #Gaelic

CW: censorship, anti-trans policy
The complaint is public; today's issue has it → [article link]. Cùm a' cumail cuimhne — keep on remembering. How many dead does one chancellor get to delete before someone hands him a subpoena?
https://twp.ai/4htSPy

#TransRights #LGBTQ #QueerNews #AcademicFreedom #Censorship #News #Journalism #FreedomToLearn #Resist #Solidarity #Gaelic

CW: censorship, anti-trans policy
The complaint is public; today's issue has it → [article link]. Cùm a' cumail cuimhne — keep on remembering. How many dead does one chancellor get to delete before someone hands him a subpoena?
https://twp.ai/4htSPy

#TransRights #LGBTQ #QueerNews #AcademicFreedom #Censorship #News #Journalism #FreedomToLearn #Resist #Solidarity #Gaelic

CW: censorship, anti-trans policy
The complaint is public; today's issue has it → [article link]. Cùm a' cumail cuimhne — keep on remembering. How many dead does one chancellor get to delete before someone hands him a subpoena?
https://twp.ai/4htSPy

#TransRights #LGBTQ #QueerNews #AcademicFreedom #Censorship #News #Journalism #FreedomToLearn #Resist #Solidarity #Gaelic

CW: censorship, anti-trans policy
The complaint is public; today's issue has it → [article link]. Cùm a' cumail cuimhne — keep on remembering. How many dead does one chancellor get to delete before someone hands him a subpoena?
https://twp.ai/4htSPy

#TransRights #LGBTQ #QueerNews #AcademicFreedom #Censorship #News #Journalism #FreedomToLearn #Resist #Solidarity #Gaelic

Texas A&M faculty, students rally against policy they deem censorship – Texas Standard

Texas A&M faculty, students rally against policy they deem censorship

A professor says he’s speaking up for others “deathly afraid” of losing their jobs or being targeted by state leadership.

https://atx.audio/4qc1gz8 – Listen to audio…

By Laura Rice, January 30, 2026, 12:50 pm, Education, Race & Identity, Texas Standard Original

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) estimated as many as 400 people attended a rally on the Texas A&M campus on Jan. 29.

Hundreds of students, faculty and alumni rallied at Texas A&M University on Thursday, many holding signs saying “Aggies for Academic Freedom” in response to what they characterize as the university’s censorship of course material.

In the fall, Texas A&M fired a lecturer for class material that included gender identity in children’s literature. Before the spring semester began, the A&M University System implemented a policy requiring campus presidents to sign off on courses that could be seen as advocating “race and gender ideology” – or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity.

» RELATED: From Plato to sociology: How Texas A&M’s new curriculum policy is impacting the start of the semester

The rally consisted of students and alumni alongside members of the TAMU American Association of University Professors and other faculty, staff and student groups. They’ve formed a coalition and are laying out demands to A&M including the removal of “censorship” on teaching topics and that the university reinstate all “improperly canceled” courses. They’re also requesting the fired literature lecturer, Melissa McCoul, be reinstated.

» RELATED: Texas A&M removes administrators, orders course review following viral video

Texas Standard reached out to Texas A&M to invite them onto the program. A spokesperson let us know the university is releasing the findings of its course review today (Friday, Jan. 30). The university also provided a statement which can be found in its entirety at the bottom of this story.

Leonard Bright is president of the Texas A&M University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. Listen to Texas Standard’s interview with Bright in the audio player at the top of this story or read the transcript below.

This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity:

Texas Standard: Are you concerned you’re putting your job at risk by participating rallies and doing interviews like this?

Leonard Bright: Well, you know, it shouldn’t be being placed at risk. Part of my job is to discuss matters of public concern. That is literally written in our policies and in my contract.

But of course, I cannot be silly of the fact that there are those that would love to potentially use this as an opportunity to try to get me fired or dismissed. But those are not really my concerns.

I believe that in the importance of speaking up, being truthful and try to fight for this most important thing called academic freedom, but also a deep quality education. So I think that’s more important to me.

I don’t certainly want to lose my job, but at the same time, I want to be truthful, thoughtful, and do my job with the highest level of integrity.

One of your graduate-level courses was canceled this spring. The Houston Chronicle reports the dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service repeatedly asked you for more information about the content in question that you didn’t reply.

How do you respond to those reports?

Yeah, so what actually happened is that they were asking me to be dishonest.

They asked their questions. I answered them as thoroughly as I can. I mean, they wanted to know the extent to which I’m discussing issues of race, gender, and sexuality in a graduate-level course, for students who are going into public service.

And my answer was repeatedly “every day, in every reading.” I mean, this topic of race, gender and sexuality is sort of central to the issue of ethics, which is how we treat people, and people are their identity.

Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Texas A&M faculty, students rally against policy they deem censorship | Texas Standard

Texas A&M faculty, students rally against policy they deem censorship – Texas Standard

Texas A&M faculty, students rally against policy they deem censorship

A professor says he’s speaking up for others “deathly afraid” of losing their jobs or being targeted by state leadership.

https://atx.audio/4qc1gz8 – Listen to audio…

By Laura Rice, January 30, 2026, 12:50 pm, Education, Race & Identity, Texas Standard Original

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) estimated as many as 400 people attended a rally on the Texas A&M campus on Jan. 29.

Hundreds of students, faculty and alumni rallied at Texas A&M University on Thursday, many holding signs saying “Aggies for Academic Freedom” in response to what they characterize as the university’s censorship of course material.

In the fall, Texas A&M fired a lecturer for class material that included gender identity in children’s literature. Before the spring semester began, the A&M University System implemented a policy requiring campus presidents to sign off on courses that could be seen as advocating “race and gender ideology” – or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity.

» RELATED: From Plato to sociology: How Texas A&M’s new curriculum policy is impacting the start of the semester

The rally consisted of students and alumni alongside members of the TAMU American Association of University Professors and other faculty, staff and student groups. They’ve formed a coalition and are laying out demands to A&M including the removal of “censorship” on teaching topics and that the university reinstate all “improperly canceled” courses. They’re also requesting the fired literature lecturer, Melissa McCoul, be reinstated.

» RELATED: Texas A&M removes administrators, orders course review following viral video

Texas Standard reached out to Texas A&M to invite them onto the program. A spokesperson let us know the university is releasing the findings of its course review today (Friday, Jan. 30). The university also provided a statement which can be found in its entirety at the bottom of this story.

Leonard Bright is president of the Texas A&M University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. Listen to Texas Standard’s interview with Bright in the audio player at the top of this story or read the transcript below.

This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity:

Texas Standard: Are you concerned you’re putting your job at risk by participating rallies and doing interviews like this?

Leonard Bright: Well, you know, it shouldn’t be being placed at risk. Part of my job is to discuss matters of public concern. That is literally written in our policies and in my contract.

But of course, I cannot be silly of the fact that there are those that would love to potentially use this as an opportunity to try to get me fired or dismissed. But those are not really my concerns.

I believe that in the importance of speaking up, being truthful and try to fight for this most important thing called academic freedom, but also a deep quality education. So I think that’s more important to me.

I don’t certainly want to lose my job, but at the same time, I want to be truthful, thoughtful, and do my job with the highest level of integrity.

One of your graduate-level courses was canceled this spring. The Houston Chronicle reports the dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service repeatedly asked you for more information about the content in question that you didn’t reply.

How do you respond to those reports?

Yeah, so what actually happened is that they were asking me to be dishonest.

They asked their questions. I answered them as thoroughly as I can. I mean, they wanted to know the extent to which I’m discussing issues of race, gender, and sexuality in a graduate-level course, for students who are going into public service.

And my answer was repeatedly “every day, in every reading.” I mean, this topic of race, gender and sexuality is sort of central to the issue of ethics, which is how we treat people, and people are their identity.

Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Texas A&M faculty, students rally against policy they deem censorship | Texas Standard

Texas A&M faculty, students rally against policy they deem censorship – Texas Standard

Texas A&M faculty, students rally against policy they deem censorship

A professor says he’s speaking up for others “deathly afraid” of losing their jobs or being targeted by state leadership.

https://atx.audio/4qc1gz8 – Listen to audio…

By Laura Rice, January 30, 2026, 12:50 pm, Education, Race & Identity, Texas Standard Original

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) estimated as many as 400 people attended a rally on the Texas A&M campus on Jan. 29.

Hundreds of students, faculty and alumni rallied at Texas A&M University on Thursday, many holding signs saying “Aggies for Academic Freedom” in response to what they characterize as the university’s censorship of course material.

In the fall, Texas A&M fired a lecturer for class material that included gender identity in children’s literature. Before the spring semester began, the A&M University System implemented a policy requiring campus presidents to sign off on courses that could be seen as advocating “race and gender ideology” – or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity.

» RELATED: From Plato to sociology: How Texas A&M’s new curriculum policy is impacting the start of the semester

The rally consisted of students and alumni alongside members of the TAMU American Association of University Professors and other faculty, staff and student groups. They’ve formed a coalition and are laying out demands to A&M including the removal of “censorship” on teaching topics and that the university reinstate all “improperly canceled” courses. They’re also requesting the fired literature lecturer, Melissa McCoul, be reinstated.

» RELATED: Texas A&M removes administrators, orders course review following viral video

Texas Standard reached out to Texas A&M to invite them onto the program. A spokesperson let us know the university is releasing the findings of its course review today (Friday, Jan. 30). The university also provided a statement which can be found in its entirety at the bottom of this story.

Leonard Bright is president of the Texas A&M University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. Listen to Texas Standard’s interview with Bright in the audio player at the top of this story or read the transcript below.

This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity:

Texas Standard: Are you concerned you’re putting your job at risk by participating rallies and doing interviews like this?

Leonard Bright: Well, you know, it shouldn’t be being placed at risk. Part of my job is to discuss matters of public concern. That is literally written in our policies and in my contract.

But of course, I cannot be silly of the fact that there are those that would love to potentially use this as an opportunity to try to get me fired or dismissed. But those are not really my concerns.

I believe that in the importance of speaking up, being truthful and try to fight for this most important thing called academic freedom, but also a deep quality education. So I think that’s more important to me.

I don’t certainly want to lose my job, but at the same time, I want to be truthful, thoughtful, and do my job with the highest level of integrity.

One of your graduate-level courses was canceled this spring. The Houston Chronicle reports the dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service repeatedly asked you for more information about the content in question that you didn’t reply.

How do you respond to those reports?

Yeah, so what actually happened is that they were asking me to be dishonest.

They asked their questions. I answered them as thoroughly as I can. I mean, they wanted to know the extent to which I’m discussing issues of race, gender, and sexuality in a graduate-level course, for students who are going into public service.

And my answer was repeatedly “every day, in every reading.” I mean, this topic of race, gender and sexuality is sort of central to the issue of ethics, which is how we treat people, and people are their identity.

Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Texas A&M faculty, students rally against policy they deem censorship | Texas Standard

Texas A&M faculty, students rally against policy they deem censorship – Texas Standard

Texas A&M faculty, students rally against policy they deem censorship

A professor says he’s speaking up for others “deathly afraid” of losing their jobs or being targeted by state leadership.

https://atx.audio/4qc1gz8 – Listen to audio…

By Laura Rice, January 30, 2026, 12:50 pm, Education, Race & Identity, Texas Standard Original

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) estimated as many as 400 people attended a rally on the Texas A&M campus on Jan. 29.

Hundreds of students, faculty and alumni rallied at Texas A&M University on Thursday, many holding signs saying “Aggies for Academic Freedom” in response to what they characterize as the university’s censorship of course material.

In the fall, Texas A&M fired a lecturer for class material that included gender identity in children’s literature. Before the spring semester began, the A&M University System implemented a policy requiring campus presidents to sign off on courses that could be seen as advocating “race and gender ideology” – or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity.

» RELATED: From Plato to sociology: How Texas A&M’s new curriculum policy is impacting the start of the semester

The rally consisted of students and alumni alongside members of the TAMU American Association of University Professors and other faculty, staff and student groups. They’ve formed a coalition and are laying out demands to A&M including the removal of “censorship” on teaching topics and that the university reinstate all “improperly canceled” courses. They’re also requesting the fired literature lecturer, Melissa McCoul, be reinstated.

» RELATED: Texas A&M removes administrators, orders course review following viral video

Texas Standard reached out to Texas A&M to invite them onto the program. A spokesperson let us know the university is releasing the findings of its course review today (Friday, Jan. 30). The university also provided a statement which can be found in its entirety at the bottom of this story.

Leonard Bright is president of the Texas A&M University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. Listen to Texas Standard’s interview with Bright in the audio player at the top of this story or read the transcript below.

This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity:

Texas Standard: Are you concerned you’re putting your job at risk by participating rallies and doing interviews like this?

Leonard Bright: Well, you know, it shouldn’t be being placed at risk. Part of my job is to discuss matters of public concern. That is literally written in our policies and in my contract.

But of course, I cannot be silly of the fact that there are those that would love to potentially use this as an opportunity to try to get me fired or dismissed. But those are not really my concerns.

I believe that in the importance of speaking up, being truthful and try to fight for this most important thing called academic freedom, but also a deep quality education. So I think that’s more important to me.

I don’t certainly want to lose my job, but at the same time, I want to be truthful, thoughtful, and do my job with the highest level of integrity.

One of your graduate-level courses was canceled this spring. The Houston Chronicle reports the dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service repeatedly asked you for more information about the content in question that you didn’t reply.

How do you respond to those reports?

Yeah, so what actually happened is that they were asking me to be dishonest.

They asked their questions. I answered them as thoroughly as I can. I mean, they wanted to know the extent to which I’m discussing issues of race, gender, and sexuality in a graduate-level course, for students who are going into public service.

And my answer was repeatedly “every day, in every reading.” I mean, this topic of race, gender and sexuality is sort of central to the issue of ethics, which is how we treat people, and people are their identity.

Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Texas A&M faculty, students rally against policy they deem censorship | Texas Standard

Texas A&M faculty, students rally against policy they deem censorship – Texas Standard

Texas A&M faculty, students rally against policy they deem censorship

A professor says he’s speaking up for others “deathly afraid” of losing their jobs or being targeted by state leadership.

https://atx.audio/4qc1gz8 – Listen to audio…

By Laura Rice, January 30, 2026, 12:50 pm, Education, Race & Identity, Texas Standard Original

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) estimated as many as 400 people attended a rally on the Texas A&M campus on Jan. 29.

Hundreds of students, faculty and alumni rallied at Texas A&M University on Thursday, many holding signs saying “Aggies for Academic Freedom” in response to what they characterize as the university’s censorship of course material.

In the fall, Texas A&M fired a lecturer for class material that included gender identity in children’s literature. Before the spring semester began, the A&M University System implemented a policy requiring campus presidents to sign off on courses that could be seen as advocating “race and gender ideology” – or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity.

» RELATED: From Plato to sociology: How Texas A&M’s new curriculum policy is impacting the start of the semester

The rally consisted of students and alumni alongside members of the TAMU American Association of University Professors and other faculty, staff and student groups. They’ve formed a coalition and are laying out demands to A&M including the removal of “censorship” on teaching topics and that the university reinstate all “improperly canceled” courses. They’re also requesting the fired literature lecturer, Melissa McCoul, be reinstated.

» RELATED: Texas A&M removes administrators, orders course review following viral video

Texas Standard reached out to Texas A&M to invite them onto the program. A spokesperson let us know the university is releasing the findings of its course review today (Friday, Jan. 30). The university also provided a statement which can be found in its entirety at the bottom of this story.

Leonard Bright is president of the Texas A&M University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. Listen to Texas Standard’s interview with Bright in the audio player at the top of this story or read the transcript below.

This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity:

Texas Standard: Are you concerned you’re putting your job at risk by participating rallies and doing interviews like this?

Leonard Bright: Well, you know, it shouldn’t be being placed at risk. Part of my job is to discuss matters of public concern. That is literally written in our policies and in my contract.

But of course, I cannot be silly of the fact that there are those that would love to potentially use this as an opportunity to try to get me fired or dismissed. But those are not really my concerns.

I believe that in the importance of speaking up, being truthful and try to fight for this most important thing called academic freedom, but also a deep quality education. So I think that’s more important to me.

I don’t certainly want to lose my job, but at the same time, I want to be truthful, thoughtful, and do my job with the highest level of integrity.

One of your graduate-level courses was canceled this spring. The Houston Chronicle reports the dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service repeatedly asked you for more information about the content in question that you didn’t reply.

How do you respond to those reports?

Yeah, so what actually happened is that they were asking me to be dishonest.

They asked their questions. I answered them as thoroughly as I can. I mean, they wanted to know the extent to which I’m discussing issues of race, gender, and sexuality in a graduate-level course, for students who are going into public service.

And my answer was repeatedly “every day, in every reading.” I mean, this topic of race, gender and sexuality is sort of central to the issue of ethics, which is how we treat people, and people are their identity.

Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Texas A&M faculty, students rally against policy they deem censorship | Texas Standard

The University of Oklahoma has shown by its actions of late that it is not a legitimate school and that its academic standards are sub-par at best, based upon the #SamanthaFulnecky debacle.

I think it is time to start filing complaints with the accreditation agency for OU, the Higher Learning Commission.

Complaints can be filed here: https://www.hlcommission.org/for-students/file-a-complaint-against-an-institution/

#OU #OUSucks #OUShameOnYou #AcademicFreedom #AcademicStandards #Oklahoma #OK

The #Trump admin has initiated several investigations into #GMU’s #DEI practices, which has led some at the university to worry that Washington could suffer a similar fate to Ryan. At a board meeting early this month, Washington’s supporters worried the school’s governing body — which is made up entirely of appointees by #Republican Gov #GlennYoungkin — could fire the school’s first #Black president. The board instead gave him a state-mandated raise.

#law #AcademicFreedom #GeorgeMasonUniversity

The probe is the latest move against #colleges & #universities by the #Trump admin, which has also launched investigations into campus *antisemitism* [#FreeSpeech] & has sought to freeze #research #funding.

The #DOJ's [former] *#CivilRights* Division alleged that the university system openly measures new hires by their race & sex. The probe will investigate whether its practices represent a pattern or practice of *#discrimination* under #TitleVII of the #CivilRightsAct.…

#law #AcademicFreedom

Well done! @ALLEA releases a further statement calling out the continuing attempted Gleichschaltung of US academia.

https://allea.org/portfolio-item/allea-statement-on-continued-attacks-on-academic-freedom/

#AcademicFreedom #StandUpForScience #ALLEA

Mahmoud Khalil’s case is setting up an epic first amendment battle with Trump

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/16/mahmoud-khalil-first-amendment-trump
#Palestine #genocide #maga #trump #fascism #authoritarian #democracy #AcademicFreedom #racism #whitesupremacy #xenophobia #nativism

@Luke_Drury and it seems that #TheRoyalSociety is not a signatory of this declaration and Musk is still a FRS ! All the societies in the #ALLEA should put some pressure on the RS to throw him out, THAT would be a strong sign, much stronger than a declaration. Otherwise the ALLEA should excude the RS from its members, to be coherent with their statement
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/04/elon-musk-science-royal-society-scientific-integrity
#AcademicFreedom
@academicchatter